Oh dear. Yes, that is a mood that English speakers tend to have trouble with; it only exists in English in the barest of fragments, and mostly historical. The use of 'shall' instead of 'will' in certain older forms is among the last surviving pieces of it, actually, although that distinction has mostly fallen out of use. Even English speakers who think about grammar at an exceptionally detailed level are not likely to identify the remnants of the mood, though when it is used improperly the astute will find that the sentence reads incorrectly and they aren't certain why.
The best example I can think of offhand is from Ellandra's soliloquy in Black's Parmenides --
Let he who thinks me weak fear naught until I strike again. I will have vengeance. And when my kin's redeemed and I depart None shall follow.
-- which is, now that I think of it, a double usage: "let he [...] fear", in which 'fear' is in the jussive mood indicating a command aimed at the acolytes, and "none shall follow", likewise a command: unlike "none will follow", which would be Ellandra predicting the future, "none shall follow", in the jussive mood, serves as a command to her followers. And is understood as such, thus setting up Parmenides' misunderstanding in act four.
Does that help at all? I know I did not explain it very well the other night -- I am finding that half the finer points I am teaching you are things I never examined closely, simply absorbed over time.
As to the rest -- yes, I will come, presuming I do not have even more work dumped on my shoulders before then. Which reminds me to thank Mr Diggory; he has meant the difference between sinking and swimming, these past few months.
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Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2014-03-20 10:50 pm (UTC)The best example I can think of offhand is from Ellandra's soliloquy in Black's Parmenides --
-- which is, now that I think of it, a double usage: "let he [...] fear", in which 'fear' is in the jussive mood indicating a command aimed at the acolytes, and "none shall follow", likewise a command: unlike "none will follow", which would be Ellandra predicting the future, "none shall follow", in the jussive mood, serves as a command to her followers. And is understood as such, thus setting up Parmenides' misunderstanding in act four.
Does that help at all? I know I did not explain it very well the other night -- I am finding that half the finer points I am teaching you are things I never examined closely, simply absorbed over time.
As to the rest -- yes, I will come, presuming I do not have even more work dumped on my shoulders before then. Which reminds me to thank Mr Diggory; he has meant the difference between sinking and swimming, these past few months.